Garth Hanson

Obituary for
Garth A Hanson

Garth A Hanson, 81, passed away peacefully on Friday, April 6, 2018, in Provo, Utah, surrounded by his wife and children. Born May 5, 1936, in Idaho Falls, Idaho, to Alfred Raymond and Harriet Viola (Holland) Hanson, the sixth of seven children. He married Sheila Westover on November 28, 1958, in the Idaho Falls (LDS) Temple. They had four children.

Garth attended Blackfoot High School and Ricks College, then received B.S. and M.S. degrees from Utah State University and a Ph.D. from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.

Garth was a teacher by trade, and in his heart. He spent the majority of his career teaching -- at Utah State University in Logan, Utah; Southern Illinois University in Carbondale, Illinois; and in the Marriott School of Management at Brigham Young University in Provo, Utah. He spent several years working in Washington, DC, with the American Vocational Association, lobbying for vocational education. He also served as Associate Director of the BYU Jerusalem Center.

Garth spent his life devoted to his wife, his family, and The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. As a young man, he served a mission in Stockholm, Sweden. Later in life, he served with his wife as mission president in Romania, and in the LDS temple in Sweden. He served for four years at the Missionary Training Center in Provo, Utah, which included time as a branch president and in a district presidency. He was very pleased that, at the time of his death, 24 members of his posterity have served full-time missions.

In addition to the many years he spent in missionary service, Garth was always busy serving in the Church. He served as bishop three times, in home wards and in a BYU student ward. No matter where he lived or what else he was involved in, he was always willing to serve in the many different ward and stake callings he received.

Music was a very important part of Garth’s life. He started playing trumpet as a young boy. He played in dance bands for many years, beginning when he was 14 years old. He also enjoyed playing around on the piano. “Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious” and “Over the Rainbow” were favorite songs of his to play.

Garth’s parents owned a Nash dealership in Blackfoot, Idaho, when he was a young man. This ignited a life-long passion for automobiles. During their 59 years of marriage, Garth & Sheila owned over 60 vehicles.

Garth is survived by his wife, Sheila, and children Hal (Kari) Hanson, Susan (Scott) Wood, Jay (Cami) Hanson, Jill (Matthew) DeGraffenried, as well as 22 grandchildren and 15 great-grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his parents, as well as siblings Lynn, Blanch, Merril, Earl J, Carol, and Joyce.

A ​viewing will be held Friday, April 13, 2018 from 6-8pm at Nelson Family Mortuary, 4780 N. University Ave. Provo. An additional viewing will be held prior to services on Saturday, April 14, 2018​​ from 9:30-10:45am at the Rock Canyon Ward, 3050 N. Mojave Lane, Provo. Funeral services will begin at 11am in the same church.

Flowers can be sent to Nelson Family Mortuary in Provo, or donations made to the LDS Church missionary fund.